WHITE-FACED WHISTLING DUCK TO PREDICT SUPER BOWL WINNER

Fresno, CA – If you’re still torn between which team will win the 49th Super Bowl next week, stop by Fresno Chaffee Zoo and let an animal decide for you!

Lazarus, the white-faced whistling duck, will make his very first Super Bowl prediction on Friday, January 30 at 1:30 p.m. in the Zoo’s rainforest lawn.

To make his decision, Lazarus will walk behind zookeeper Shayna Kramb, who will guide him between two, team-themed blankets. Whichever blanket Lazarus is drawn to first will be his Super Bowl winner prediction! Lazarus is an imprinted duck, which makes him especially comfortable in front of people.

“Imprinting is a term that is used to refer to an animal picking a different species as its parent figure,” said Kramb. “Because Lazarus was hand raised, he thinks that I am his mother.”

After Lazarus has made his Super Bowl prediction, Zoo visitors will have the opportunity to meet Lazarus and a zookeeper.

White-faced whistling ducks (Dendrocygna viduata) are an abundant sub-Saharan Africa and South America species that inhabit freshwater lakes or reservoirs. Named for its high-pitched whistling call, this omnivorous species is sometimes referred to as a white-faced tree duck because of its occasional habit of perching in trees.

“Our lead keeper, Jennifer Wesson, thought that it would be a great idea to let Lazarus choose the winner this year,” said Kramb. “Since we are able to bring him out in front of the public and with the excitement of African Adventure opening in October, we thought he’d be the perfect animal for the job!”